- Without dressings, the forehead skin stress concentration peaked at 7.3 kPa, and 28.9 kPa at the chin.
- Forehead stress pattern elongate horizontally, and diffuse at the chin.
- The maximum SED values at the forehead was 1.8 kPa, and 5.1 kPa at the chin.
- The dressings significantly reduced the SEDs. Skin SEDs decreased by 61% and 91% for the forehead and chin respectively. 

Stress and strain distributions on facial skin

- Analysis in the subcutaneous fat layer showed similar patterns to the facial skin distributions but with greater spread of the stress since fat is less stiff (more prone to deformity).
- The dressings and tissue protectants reduced the fat layer SEDs by 35% and 84% for the forehead and chin respectively.

Stress and strain distributions in subcutaneous fat layer

- Stress and strain distributions on facial skin
- Stress and strain distribution in subcutaneous fat layer

Ohio State University, Columbus

The weight of the head is held up by the head; however COVID-19 patients placed in a prone position may experience pressure ulcers resulting from prolonged exposure/contact of the surface with the skin. Prophylactic dressing is a multi-layered silicone foam dressing which can be applied to the resting surface to relieve the stress and strain of the body weight on the soft tissue. This reduces the chances of a pressure ulcer especially for COVID-19 patients with low mobility. 

Prophylactic Dressings

Peko, L, Barakat‐Johnson, M, Gefen, A. Protecting prone positioned patients from facial pressure ulcers using prophylactic dressings: A timely biomechanical analysis in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Int Wound J. 2020; 1– 12. 
https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.13435

Using prophylactic dressing to prevent facial pressure ulcers for COVID-19 patients

A pressure ulcer is damage to the soft tissue resulting from prolonged exposure of the skin to the resting surface. These often occur due to the patient's bodyweight forces which results in greater stress and strain to the area of the skin exposed to the surface. Patients with low mobility, or those placed in a prone position are at greater risk of a pressure ulcer. 

Pressure Ulcers

The researchers developed two anatomically accurate models of the human head. A model would serve as a control, while the other is placed in a prone position with the dressing between the skin and the resting surface. These models would provide quantitative information about facial skin and subcutaneous fat loading while in a prone position.


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